Exploring the Lake Constance Region Cards

What did Peter Lenk’s artwork critique?

Politics, power structures, and society

What are the three of Peter Lenk’s most popular artworks around Lake Constance called?

Imperia (1993, Konstanz Harbor), Lenk Brunnen (1994, Konstanz), Magische Säule (2007, Meersburg)

What is Imperia?

A rotating courtesan holding a pope and an emperor, made to critique the Council of Constance by highlighting the corruption among the powerful figures and manipulation of power.

What is the Lenk Brunnen?

It’s a fountain with exaggerated figures that represents local politicians and historical events, exposing hypocrisy and encouraging critical thinking among passing people

What is the Magische Säule?

A tall column with stacked figures that critiques German intellectual history through satire. Some of the famous figues represented are Franz Mesmer and Annette von Droste-Hülshoff

Why is Mainau famous today?

It’s known as the “Flower Island”, and houses over 1 million flowers and exotic plants for tourists

Who controlled the Mainau island, and what was its use during the Middle Ages?

It was controlled by the Teutonic Order, and was used for agriculture and administration

What happed at the Mainau island during the Baroque period?

There was a palace build in 1740, and structured gardens were being developed

What happed at the Mainau island during the 19th century?

The Teutonic Order dissolved and the island became a part of the Grand Duchy of Baden

What happed at the Mainau island during the 20th century?

It was bought by Count Lennart Bernadotte, and was opened to the public as a flower island

What were some of the conflicts between Germany and Switzerland?

• The Habsburg Rivalry (Swiss confederates resisted against the German Habsburg dynasty)

• The Swabian War (Switzerland defeated the Empire, gaining independence)

• The Treaty of Westphalia (Switzerland was formerly detached from the German Empire)

What religious and cultural interactions were Germany and Switzerland involved in?

Martin Luther and Swiss reformers led simultaneous intellectual shifts during the protestant reformation.

What things happened between Germany and Switzerland during the first and second world war?

• People in different linguistic groups within Switzerland were supporting different countries during the first war

• During the second world war, Switzerland wished to remain neutral, warned the Nazis not to attack them, and exchanged Swiss francs for Germany’s gold bars. Switzerland also shut its borders to appease Germany, as no Jewish refugees could easily enter the country

What is the political relationship between Germany and Switzerland?

• Germany has a representative parliament system, while Switzerland relies on referendums and a direct consensus

• Switzerland is non-EU, so Germany acts as a primary negotiation advocate in Brussels

• Switzerland is neutral, so it has blocked Germany from reexporting Swiss-made ammunition to Ukraine

• Germany frequently uses Switzerland’s “Good Offices” to host diplomatic peace summits

What is the economic relationship between Germany and Switzerland?

• Germany is Switzerland’s top trading partner (Over 100B in annual trade)

• They are heavily focused on chemical-pharmaceuticals, heavy machinery, and micro-electronics

• There is a lot of cross-border employment, with 70,000 German daily commuters supporting key Swiss sectors

• Heavy cross-border investments between German firms, using Swiss tax advantages

What are some cultural differences between Germany and Switzerland?

• The spoken dialects are different, and may confuse one another when talking

• Large Swiss consumption of German television and media

• Many intelligent German researchers are attracted to highly funded Swiss universities

• Sports rivalries

• There are blended traditions, carnivals, and mountain lifestyles that are shared around close borders

What age were the pile dwellings used primarily?

Stone Age and Bronze Age

What role did the pile dwellings serve? Why on the water?

They were on the water to avoid regular floods and wild animals with simple fences along the water. They also were directly located on major trade routes, making trade efficient. Also made fishing more accessible and relocation easy.

What were some drawbacks of this lifestyle?

The buildings themselves only lasted anywhere from 5 to 25 years, as the water would damage the piles, and the houses typically had fires in them without an easy escape for the smoke.

What do the pile dwellings show us today?

They show the transition from the Stone to the Bronze Age, and human adaptation to wetland environments. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that explains daily life, and shows their rise in the Stone Age, making strong tools slowly, to the Bronze Age, the first glimpse of human mass production.

How long did the pile dwelling civilization last?

They lasted until 847 BC when the lake levels abruptly rose

What was Goldbacher Stollen and when and where was it built?

It was an underground tunnel system in Friedrichshafen built in 1944, that was a part of the Nazi plan to create a bomb-proof factory and move some military industry underground.

Why was Goldbacher Stollen’s location chosen?

It was close to Switzerland and Austria, there was a lot of soft rock, allowing for fast excavation. It was nearby railways for easy resource movement, and the construction was able to remain hidden because they could dump the mined rock into the lake.

How was Goldbacher Stollen built? Was the project finished?

It was built by camp prisoners from Dachau using grueling and cruel forced labor with little food and medical care. Many prisoners ended up dying, and the project never ended up being finished due to Germany’s collapse in 1945.

Why was Friedrichshafen used for the zeppelin airships?

The area was open, allowing for easy testing, and if it were to fail, it could land in the water, making it slightly safer, and easier to recover the parts from the ship.

What were the advantages and disadvantages of airships?

Advantages

• Easy to control

• Lots of recreational space for passengers to enjoy (look out windows)

• Didn’t need tons of fuel refilling

• Able to put advertising onto them (Nazis)

Disadvantages

• Not many passengers could ride at a time (compared to a ship)

• Was relatively slow, but luxury partially made up for it

• Hydrogen gas is highly flammable, so any sort of fire accident would be catastrophic (Hindenburg)

• Other gasses like helium are safer, but don’t allow you to carry as much weight

What happened where the Constance Cathedral stands in the late Roman period to the 8th Century?

The site was originally part of a Roman fortress or settlement, acting as a gathering place for early Christian communities as the religion spread. There was a simple wooden church constructed around the 6th century.

What happened where the Constance Cathedral stands around 780 AD?

Constance was a Christian center, and under the rule of Charlemagne and the influence of the Carolingians, a simple stone church was built in the form of a basilica.

What happened where the Constance Cathedral stands in the 11th century to the 13th century?

The cathedral’s importance grew due to pilgrimages and donations, leading to the construction of its characteristic Romanesque style, the tower was built, and it was expanded in size.

What happened where the Constance Cathedral stands in the 14th to the 15th century?

The city continued to grow, and the church was rebuilt in a Gothic style. The west portal and choir areas were also redesigned. It served as a central gathering place during the Council of Constance as well to end church divisions.

What happened where the Constance Cathedral stands in the 16th to the 17th century?

The protestant reformation brought tensions to the region. Constance remained predominantly Catholic, but still the cathedral say Baroque changes and redesigning of the interior, mainly the pulpit and altars.

What happened where the Constance Cathedral stands in the 19th to the 20th century?

Interest in monument preservation grew, and the Cathedral underwent extensive restoration to preserve its significance throughout the 20th century

How many states make up the federal republic of Germany?

16

How many people live in Baden-Württemberg, when was it formed, and what is its capital?

Around 11 million, formed in 1952, Stuttgart

What former territories does Baden-Württemberg comprise?

Baden, Prussian Hohenzollern Württemberg, and parts of Swabia

What accounts for Baden-Württemberg’s economic prosperity?

Many small-medium sized companies, houses the headquarters of many big companies, especially luxury cars, and it has a low unemployment rate

What was the Council of Constance and what was its significance?

The council promoted unity and understanding among the Christian community that met in the Holy Roman Empire. They are responsible for condemning and burning the reformer Jan Hus, as well as ending Western Schism (was a temporary divide of the Roman Catholic Church)

What was Franz Mesmer’s theory and how did it work?

Called “animal magnetism” and he theorized that everyone had a natural magnetic flow inside of them. When disrupted it caused the person to feel sick, so he believed that by restoring the flow with magnets, and later his hands, that he could cure nearly every disease.

What happened to Franz Mesmer’s experiments to cause them to lose popularity?

Louis XVI commissioned an investigation on his methods in 1784, showing that the effects only worked when the patients saw that the magnetism was on their body.

What important phenomenon discovered by Mesmer’s work? And what word comes from his name?

His work was successful due to the placebo effect, which is used today in things like studies and medicine still, although just for testing and daily clinical practice. The word “mesmerize” also comes from Mesmer as when he did his experiments, the patients would often enter a trance-like state

Who founded the Meersburg castle and when was it constructed?

It was founded in 630 AD by the Merovingian king Dagobert I.

What was the purpose of the Meersburg castle during the Middle Ages?

It served as a residence for the Prince-Bishops of Constance, and also played an important role in regional politics

What famous person lived in the castle?

The German poet Annette von Droste-Hülshoff lived there from 1841 to 1848

What is so special about Meersburg castle today?

It is the oldest castle that is still inhabited by people

What influential building exists on the Reichenau island, and what historical impact did it have?

The Reichenau Abbey was founded in 724 AD by the missionary monk Saint Pirmin. It was one of the most influential monasteries in medieval Europe, serving as a major center of learning, manuscript production, science, and art

What three churches survived the monastery era on Reichenau island?

• St. George’s Church

• Church of St. Peter and St. Paul

• Ministry of St. Mary and Marcus

What church on Reichenau is most famous and why?

St. George’s Church because it contains many rare 10th century wall paintings that are depicting miracles of Christ

In addition to the churches and monasteries, what else is the Reichenau island known for?

They have a large amount of agriculture on the island, producing vegetables, herbs, and wine that is exported regionally

Why is Fastnacht celebrated and what do they do for celebrations?

Was originally the night before Christian fasting begins. Now it is the celebrations that take place before Ash Wednesday. The celebrations often involved a lot of food that was not allowed while fasting. There would be parades and parties with people wearing scary masks, as well as people breaking social rules and mocking authorities for a short time.

What do the Fastnacht costumes represent?

The characters are called witched (Hexen), fools (Narren), devils, and certain animal figures from medieval folklore, and the costumes were worn to conceal identity and allow anyone to participate. They often symbolize the chaotic forces of winter, nature, or the supernatural to drive away winter and welcome spring.

What are some key ideas of Waldorf Schulen?

They focus on thinking, feeling, and doing. They emphasize arts, crafts, music, and practical work. Lessons are often taught in blocks. Students create their own notebooks, don’t repeat grades, and are given written reports rather than numeric grades.

When was the first Waldorf Schule founded? Where? Why?

Founded in 1919 in Stuttgart for factory workers’ children.